Toy bowling-alley.



T. J. BURKE.

TQY BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1916- 1,209,1 13. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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Elwuewboz Patented Dec. 19,1916.

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THOMAS J. BURKE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. I

TOY BOWLING-ALLEY.

Application filed March 25, 1916. Serial No. 86,723. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in ,ToyBowling- Alleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to a toybowling a ey.

It is one aim of the present invention to provide'in apparatus of thisclass a novel pin setting device which maybe readily actuated toautomatically, quicklyand accurately reset all of the pinssimultaneously and subsequently actuated to release all of the pins or,in other words, relieve the same of ten' sion and leave them standing inproper position upon their bases andentirely free from support so that agame projectile. constituting a part of the apparatus may strike andknockdown a greater or less number of the pins, depending upon the skillof the person actuating'the. device provided for the'pur-.

pose of throwing the projectile.

Another aim of the invention is to provide in connection with the pinsetting device, an element arranged for actuation to actuate the pinsetting device to set the pins, which element will constitute a targetat which the projectile may be aimed so that a player by exercisingskill may cause the projectile to strike the target and in this mannerautomatically reset the pins or other objective game pieces without thenecessity of arising from his seat or ing the said element. v

Another aim of the inventlon 1s to so conmanually actuatstruct theapparatus that after the projectile has been thrown at the pins it willbe stopped .and automatically returned to that end of the apparatus atwhich the player then try-,

ing his skill is located.

Another aim of the invention is to so 'c'onstruct the pin setting deviceof the apparatus that the strain upon the flexible elements which areconnected to the pins and which are pulled in the act of resetting thepins, will be evenly distributed throughout the entire number of suchelements so as to 1nsure of proper and simultaneous setting of all ofthe pins and to obviate likelihood of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee; is; rare.

the flexible elements being broken through the sudden actuation of thepin device.

Another aim of the, invention is to. so construct the apparatus that thepin setting device thereof will be completely housed and will,therefore, not be liable to become accisetting 'dentally disarranged orbroken although accessmay be readily had thereto in the event that itbecomes necessary of the parts of the said device.

In the accompanyingdrawings: Figure 1 to repair any is a. verticallongitudinal sectional view Y through the apparatus embodying thepresent invention, the; pin setting device being illustrated incondition immediately after having been actuated to set the pins. Fig. 2is'a bottom plan view of-the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryperspective view of the pin setting device. Fig.4 is averticaltransverse seetlonal view through the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a verticallongitudinal sectional 'view through the'device for throwing the gameprojectile.

. The game apparatus embodying the presentinvention includes an inclinedbase which is indicated by ,the, numeral 1 and which is supported inelevated position preferably by means of. side boards 2, a back board 3and a front board 4 although, if desired, the base may be supported inany other suitable manner.

While the device for throwing the gameprojectile of the apparatus may beof any desired type itis here .shown as in the nature of a spring uncomprising a barrel 5 which is provided etween-its ends with a block 6mounted within an opening 7 formed in an upright supporting member 8.Pins 9 and '10 are secured through the upper and lower edgesrespectively of the said member 8 and fit in sockets 11 formed in theupper and under sides of the block 6 whereby to permit of swivelingmovement of the barrel 5.

Within-the barrel there is mounted a plunger 12 the stem 13 of whichfits slidably through an opening. in the closed rear end of the barrel 5and is provided with a finger knob lt by means of which the plunger maybe retracted. The plunger is' normally held in a forward position bymeans of a spring '16 which is fitted to the stem 13 and bears at oneend against the plunger head 12 and at its other end against the saidclosed rear end of the barrel. The supporting member 8 is, of course,mounted at that end of the base 1 at which the player stands in usingthe apparatus and as stated the barrel 5 may have swiveling movement sothat the player may exercise his skill in aiming the device.

The projectile is indicated by the numeral 16 and may be in the form ofa marble, rubber ball or, in fact, any similar article suitable for thepurpose and spherical in shape. The barrel 5 is preferably provided inits upper side with an opening 17 through which the projectile 16 may beinserted when the plunger 12 is retracted against the tension of thespring, it being understood that upon release of the finger knob 14 thespring will drive the plunger forwardly thereby throwing the projectilefrom the barrel in the direction of the other end of the base 1 or, inother words, that end at which the pins or other objective game piecesare arranged, The inclination of the base 1 is in a downward directionfrom its last mentioned end and consequently after the projectile hasbeen thrown and. falls upon the base, it will roll by gravity to thelower end of the base where it may be conveniently recovered by theplayer.

In order that the projectile may be arrested in its course after havingstruck the pins or other objective game pieces, and therefore beprevented from being thrown beyond the apparatus and cause damage-orbecome lost, means is provided which will now be described. Supported inupright position, either removably or in a permanently fixed manner,ateach side of the base 1 at its upper end, is a post or upright 18provided near its upper end with a groove or notch 19 and nearits lowerend with a groove or notch 20. A netting 21 is'provided at its upper andlower edges with hems 22 and 23 respectively through which are passeddraw strings 24 and this netting is preferably straight throughout theextent of its lower edge buthas its upper edge inclined downwardly frompoints at opposite sides of its middle toward each end. In arranging thenetting in position the intermediate portion of the netting is stretchedbetween the posts 18 with the hems 22 and 23 seating in the notches 19and 20 respectively and the draw strings 24 are then more or lesstightly drawn in the direction of the lower end of the base 1 and arepassed through eyelets 25 at the lower corners of the base and tied inany suitable manner. When so arranged the netting will present a stretchthe height of the posts 18 and extending between the posts, and sidestretches which extend along the opposite sides of the base 1, and theupper edges of which gradually incline downwardly toward the lower endof the base.

In the present invention the objective game pieces are in the nature ofminiature bowling pins and are indicated by the numeral 26, and each pinis formed with an axially extending bore 27 through which is led aflexible cord 28, the cord being either provided with a knot 29 seatingat the upper end of the bore 27, or secured in any other suitable mannerto the pin. There are preferably ten of the pins provided as. upon theordinary bowling alley and when the pins are in position they occupy thesame relative position as do the pins upon the ordinary bowling alley.Therefore, the base 1 of the apparatus is formed with a number ofopenings 30 arranged in the manner stated and through which openings thecords or other flexible elements 28 are led as clearly shown in Figs. 1and 4 of the drawings. In order that the pins may be reset after eachplay or series of plays, means is provided for exerting simultaneously apull upon all of the cords 28 and while various devices may be employedfor this purpose the one here shown includes a resilient memberpreferably in the nature of a strip 31 of some resilient wood which issecured at one end to a cross piece 32 arranged beneath the base 1 atthe lower end thereof, the tendency of the strip 31 being to springdownwardly at its free end. It will be understood, of course, that'thestrip 31 extends longitudinally beneath the base 1 and the strip ispreferably provided near its end which extends beneath the upper end ofthe base 1, with a number of cross pieces 33, 34 and 35, which may be ofwood or any other suitable material and which extend respectivelytransversely beneath the several rows of pins. That is to say, the crosspiece 33 extends beneath the rear row of four pins; the cross piece 34extends transversely' beneath the next row of three pins; and, the crosspiece 35 extends transversely beneath the next row of two pins. Theseveral cross pieces are provided with openings 36 and the strip isprovided with a single opening 37 through which openings the cords orflexible elements are led. These cords may be arrangedin any suitablemanner although an arrangement such as illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings is to be preferred. In this arrangement the cords from the twomiddle pins ofthe rear row are led through the corresponding openings inthe cross piece 33 and are united and have connected tothem one 'end ofa coil spring 38, the other end of which spring is secured as at 39 tothe strip 31. The two end pins in the next adjacent row have theirflexible elements 28 led through corresponding openings in the crosspiece 34 and connected to each other and have connected therewith aspring 40 which is also connected to the strip 31. The flexible elements28 from the two end pins of the rear row of pins are led throughcorresponding open ings in the cross piece 33 and are connected to eachother and in a like manner the flexible elements of the two pins of thesecond row are led through correspondingly located openings in the crosspiece 35 and are connected to each other and to these two sets ofconnected flexible elements are connected the ends of a coil spring 41.The flexible elements from the head pin or, in other words, the foremostpin, and from the middle pin of the row of three pins are ledrespectively through the opening 37 and the other one of the openings inthe cross piece 34 and are connected to each other and have connected tothem a coil spring 42, which is also connected preferably to the crosspiece 35.

It will now be apparent that while all of the flexible elements 28 areconnected to the strip 31 or more specifically to its cross pieces 33,34 and 35, this connection is not a direct one but is through the mediumof resilient elements such as the several springs referred to. As aconsequence, when the strip 31 is permitted to spring downwardly at itdfree end a pull will be exerted upon each and every one of the flexibleelements causing the respective pins 26 to assume an upright positionupon the base member 1 and yet in constructing the apparatus it is notnecessary.

to exercise great care in proportioning the length of the severalstrings or connections in order to insure of substantially the same pullbeing exerted upon all of the strings. This obviously would benecessary, however, if the flexible elements 'were connected directly tothe strip 31 or its cross pieces and without the interposition ofyieldable means for establishing the connection. It will also beunderstood that when the member 31 is placed under tension by springingits free end upwardly, the flexible connections will be relieved ofstrain and the pins are supported solely by the disposal of their basesupon the base 1' and consequently when struck by the projectile of theapparatus they are free to fall. At this point it will be apparent thatwhere means is provide'dfor holding the strip 31 under tension and thismeans is operable to suddenly release the strip, the strip at its freeend will spring quickly in a downward direction and exert a quick pullupon the several flexible elements which are connected to the pins. Theshock of this sudden pull is, however, absorbed by the several springswhich establish connection between the flexible elements and the strip31 or its cross pieces and,

therefore, it is not likely that the flexible elements will be brokendue to the sudden pull exerted. In .order that the strip 31 may beplaced under tension and the flexible elements thereby relieved from thepull which this strip normally tends to. exert "upon them, a cord orother flexible element 43 is connected at one end as at 44 to the freeend of the strip 31 and is led through an eye 45 upon the under side ofthe base 1 and thence in the direction of the lower end of the base or,in other words, the front board 4 of the apparatus, and through anopening 46 in the said front board and is provided at its end with aloop or any other suitable device 47 whereby to permit of its beinggrasped and a pull exerted thereon. It will now be understood that bypulling upon the cord 43 the free end of the strip 31 will be flexed inan upward direction. In order that the strip may be held under tensionthere is provided a detent device which may be formed of wood or metaland is preferably in the nature of a resilient arm 48 secured at itslower end to the inner side of the backboard 3 and provided at its upperend with a head 49 which for a reason to be presently explained projectsupwardly through a slot 50 formed in the base 1 a suitable distance inthe rear of the group of pins 26. -At a suitable point below the base 1the forwardly presented face of the head 49 is formed with a notch 51into which may seat the free extremity of the strip 31 when the strip isflexed upwardly,the arm 48 having a normal tendency to spring forwardlyinto the path of movement of the said extremity of the strip 31 when thestrip is flexed. The strip havmg been flexed in the manner stated so asto bring its free extremity into engagement in the notch '51, theflexible connections 28 -will be relieved of the pulling strainnormanner in which it is thrown at the pins or other objective gamepieces, for the purpose of automatically resetting the pins or otherobjective game pieces. For example, after a player has made his play orplays he will operate the projectile throwing device with the intention.of causing the projectile to strike the head 49 and when he issuccessful in making such a play the head will be thrown rearwardlythereby rendering the detent inactiveto retain the strip 31 in flexedcondition and the strip will then pull upon the flexible elements whichare connected to the objective game pieces, causing the same to assumeautomatically an upright position upon the base board of the apparatus.

It will be understood. that while the objective game pieces arehereinshown and described as in thenature of miniature ten pins, theymay represent soldiers, animals, or, in fact, any other animate orinanimate thing or object.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In game apparatus, a base member, an objective game piece arrangedfor disposal in upright position upon the base member, a flexibleelement connected to the game piece and extending through the basemember, a resilient element secured at one end beneath the base memberand having connected to its, free portion the said flexible element, andmeans operable to render the said resilient element inactive.

2. In game apparatus, a base member, an

objective game piece arranged for disposal in upright position upon thebase member, a flexible element connected to the game piece andextending through the base member, a resilient element secured at oneend beneath the base member and having connected toits free portion thesaid flexible element, means for placing the resilient element undertension whereby to relieve the flexible element of pulling strain, andmeans for maintaining the tension upon the said resilient element.

3. In game apparatus, a base member, an objective game piece arrangedfor disposal in upright position upon-the base member, a strip ofresilient material secured at one end beneath the base member,a flexibleelement connected to the said objective game piece and to the saidresilient strip, a pulling element connected to the free portion of thestrip and arranged when a pull is exerted thereon to flex the strip andplace the same under tension in a manner to relieve the flexible elementof pulling strain, and a detent arranged for coaction with the saidstrip to hold the same flexed and operable to release the said strip;

4. In game apparatus, a base member, an objective game piece. arrangedfor disposal in upright positign upon the base member, a resilient stripsecured beneath the base member and having a free end portion, aflexible element connected to the game piece, yieldable connectionbetween the flexible element and the said free portion of the resilientstrip, the strip tending to normally assume a position exerting a pullupon the said connection and the said element, means for flexing thesaid portion of the strip to relieve the element of pulling strain, anda detent operable to maintain the said por- 7 tion of the strip inflexed condition.

5. In game apparatus, a base member, an objectivegame piece arranged fordisposal in upright position upon the base member, a resilient elementmounted at one end he neath the base member and having a free portion, aflexible element connected to the game piece and to the free portion ofthe said member, means for flexing the said portion of the member torelieve the said element of pulling strain normally exerted by the saidmember, and a resilient detent mounted beneath the base member andhaving a portionprojecting upwardly through the base member and having ashoulder arranged for engagement by the end of the said portion of theresilient member for holding the same flexed.

6. In game apparatus, a base member, an objective game piece arrangedfor disposal in upright position upon the base member, means tending tocause the said game piece to assume such position, means for renderingthe last mentioned means inactive and including a target elementprojecting above the base member, and projectile throwing means operableto throw a projectile in the direction of the said target element andsaid game piece.

7 In game apparatus, a base member, an objective game piece arranged fordisposal in upright position upon the base member, a flexible elementconnected to the game piece, means normally tending to exert a pull uponthe said element whereby to cause the game piece to assume an uprightposition on the said base member, and means op-.

erable to render the pulling means inactive and including a targetelement projecting above the base member in rear of the said game piece.

8. In game apparatus, a base member, an

objective game piece arranged for disposal in upright position upon thebase member,

a resilient element arranged beneath the base member, a flexible elementconnected to the game piece and to the resilient element, means forplacing the resilient element under tension whereby to relieve theflexible element of pulling strain, and a detent for maintaining theresilient element under tension including a target portion projectingabove the said base member.

9. In game apparatus, a support, a game piece arranged for disposal inupright position upon the support, means tending to cause the said gamepiece to assume such position, means for rendering the last mentionedmeans inactive, means for retaining the same inactive, a target elementoperatively associated with the last mentioned means, and a projectilethrowing means operable to throw a projectile in the. direction of thesaid target member.

In testimony whereofI afiix my signature.

THOMAS J. BURKE. [Ls]

